The UK's beleaguered high street failed to receive a boost during the Olympics, a report suggested today, while retailers' optimism took its biggest slide for three years.
The survey by the CBI business body found that 31 per cent of retailers suffered lower sales volumes than a year ago over the first two weeks of August - a period that coincided with the Games - while 27 per cent believed them to be higher.
The resulting balance of 3 per cent that reported lower sales was worse than expectations and dealt a blow to hopes that a feel-good factor from the Games would help lift some of the gloom over the sector.
(August 23, 2012)